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Children with flat feet, also called pes planus, have a flattening of the arch during standing and walking.

Flat foot is normal in infants and young children. At this age, in the absence of any associated symptoms, treatment is highly debatable.

Flat foot usually naturally corrects itself as muscles strengthen and soft tissues stiffen. The height of the arch in the foot increases with age until about 9 years. The problem is when flat foot persists, spontaneously occurs in older children or later in life, or is associated with pain and disability.

Flat feet can be flexible or rigid, painful or painless and associated with a tightness of the calf muscles (Achilles tendon). The majority of flat feet are painless, but when pain is present it is usually during weight-bearing activities such as walking and running. The pain can be in the sole of the foot, the ankle, or non-specific pain all around the foot area.

What causes flat feet?

A complex and sophisticated interaction of bones, ligaments, muscles and nerves within and above the foot defines its anatomy and function. Anything that interrupts the integrity of these structures leading to a collapsed arch can cause symptomatic flat feet.

Examination of the foot begins with an examination of the entire child, because the flat foot may have an underlying cause.

Flat foot can also originate from unusual anatomy such as a tarsal coalition (bones joined together), ligament or muscle damage, restricted ankle movement, outward rotated lower legs, and knock knees (where the legs bow inwards at the knee). Obesity can result in collapse of the arches by the increased load on the foot. If knock knees also develop, the middle of the foot will tend to turn out (abduct). The foot will point outwards when walking, instead of straight ahead, which is inefficient and can cause early fatigue.

Footwear in early childhood has been thought to cause flat foot. It is likely that children who wear shoes, are not physically active and have flat feet will have decreased muscle activation in their feet and thus impaired foot function and weakness.

Some older children and adolescents develop flat feet in the absence of any disorder or associated factors.

Does flat foot need to be treated?

Flat feet require treatment only if clearly associated with pain or decreased function. Managing the underlying cause or disease is of highest priority; just treating the symptoms should be secondary.

If flat foot is observed in a child who is overweight and has knock knees, or in a child with excess joint flexibility and poor footwear, each of these factors could be contributing to the symptoms, and each should be addressed.

If a child’s quality of life is affected by how their feet look, feel or function, then the associated issues should be addressed.

There are many causes of leg pain right from muscle cramps and inflammation of tendons to arthritis, varicose veins and nerve damage. Leg pain due to muscle strain following an injury or wearing tight shoes for a long time can be prevented by following few simple tips:

Stretch the leg muscle: One of the most effective ways to prevent leg pain due to a sudden muscle twist or cramp is to stretch the muscle. This not only improves blood flow to the injured muscle but it also helps in reducing muscle tension thereby relieving muscle soreness.

Take a warm shower: If you suffer from leg pain, then take a warm shower to relax the muscles. If taking a bath is not feasible, then placing a heating pad on the affected areas can also help. A heat pack works best if the pain is due to a previous injury as it not only relaxes blood vessels but also improves blood circulation, alleviating leg pain.

Wear a proper fitting athletic shoe: Most people fail to choose the right fitting shoe, which is one of the common causes of leg and heel pain. To get the right fit, determine the shape of your foot using the ‘wet test’. For this, step out of the shower onto a surface that will show your footprint, like a brown paper bag. If you have a flat foot, you will see an impression of your whole foot on the paper. If you have a high arch, you will only see the ball and heel of your foot. When shopping, look for athletic shoes that match your particular foot pattern.

Choose the right sports shoe: Not many people are aware that different types of shoes are specially designed to meet your sports requirement. Did you know running long distances in court-style sneakers can contribute to shin splints? It is important to choose the shoes according to your sport or fitness routine.

Go slow if you are a beginner at the gym: One of the common mistakes that most people commit is to overexert on the first day of the gym, which not only exerts pressure on the knee but also causes muscle soreness and leg pain. The key to preventing leg pain and sticking to your workout routine is to build your fitness level slowly. You can start off with less strenuous workouts and then gradually increase the duration, intensity, and frequency of your exercise regimen.

New in winter slippers in stock, just in time for the winter (and Mother’s Day) to keep your feet warm and free from chilblains.

The core principals of the Dr Comfort slippers and footwear range are:

Total satisfaction in look, feel, quality and fit

Every shoe style offers extra depth in the toe box and is available in a large range of shoe sizes and 3 widths to accommodate even the most difficult to fit foot.

Easy shoes and slippers to put on, many with Velcro fastening

The use of top quality natural materials in all footwear. Most of the uppers and linings are made from the finest top grain leathers.

Belief that proper shoe fitting can alleviate foot complications.

The Podiatrist in Remuera, Birkenhead, Orewa, New Lynn, Westgate and Westview is trained in the shoe fitting process, and we have experts on-site and available to help tackle the most difficult of foot issues.

Continual improvement of the Dr Comfort range from heel to toe, to make it the very best it can be.

Have a positive impact on the daily lives of our customers and their well being.

A great range of socks to accompany the shoes- made from Bamboo fibres to keep feet warm and dry and prevent infections.

Definition

An ingrown toenail is a common condition in which the corner or side of one of your toenails grows into the soft flesh of that toe. The result is pain, redness, swelling and, sometimes, an infection.

Often, you can take care of ingrown toenails on your own. If the pain is severe or spreading, however, your Podiatrist can take steps to relieve your discomfort and help you avoid complications of an ingrown toenail.

If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor circulation to your feet, you’re at greater risk of complications from an ingrown toenail.

About Scooters

Did you know about a bright and colourful children’s shoe shop in Remuera? Well, Scooters is the name and they have a wonderful selection of shoes for us kids (and even for mum).

You do everything to ensure that children grow healthy and strong and you are very aware of how important it is to care for their teeth and eyes, yet you often don’t look at their feet. Their little feet are one of the most complex parts of their bodies. Children’s feet are made up of twenty six bones and numerous joints held together by ligaments, all laced with muscles, nerves and blood vessels. As we get older, our foot problems grow with us. Poorly fitted shoes can restrict our feet and then cause foot problems and deformities. Our shoes need to be the proper width, length, depth and shape. It is very important to find a shop that specializes in children’s shoes, with trained staff who have the skill and experience to keep an eye on the development of our feet.

Scooters is a convenient shop and is a friendly place. The team have all been trained in how to correctly measure and fit the shoes. and there is even a special lady who sorts out foot problems. She is there on Saturdays. They have a loyalty card programme- purchase 6 pairs of shoes, you get 40% off the 7th pair. What a saving for our growing feet (and your pocket)!! There is an incentive to local schools and Plunket. If we mention the school that we go to, they will donate some money towards the school’s fundraising. They also support Heart Children and for families with multiples.

There are ranges of shoes for school ,sports shoes, beach and funky casual shoes. They even have Velcro sports shoes for Pete (so he doesn’t have to tie the laces). The All Blacks range for smaller guys is cool. They are also large choices of colourful socks and stockings for all ages.

Scooters is located in the Remuera mall, Shop 11A. You can also call them on 529 7930. There is under cover parking (off Norana Avenue) which is free.